JP2011188480A - Clustering management in millimeter wave wireless systems - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a technology for coexistence of overlapping basic service sets (BSSs) in 60 GHz band. <P>SOLUTION: A method includes the steps of: detecting if a first cluster-capable PCP/AP is present within the range of a non-PCP/non-AP STA; and transmitting a message to a second cluster-capable PCP/AP associated with the non-PCP/non-AP STA requesting that the second cluster-capable PCP/AP starts or continues the use of clustering in a BSS of the second cluster-capable PCP/AP. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly to clustering management in millimeter wave wireless systems.

  In a typical wireless network, many devices communicate with each other. In order to simplify communication between a plurality of networkable devices, it is necessary to manage communication. Each typical network comprises a communication controller such as an access point, a piconet controller (PNC), a PBSS central point (PCP), or a station (STA) that functions as a controller that manages network communications. A PNC can be defined as a controller that shares a physical channel with one or more stations that form a network with the PNC. Each station, such as a personal computer, can be associated with a controller and thereby associated with a network. Associating with a network may also include connecting to a network. Obtain access to available resources via network connection after network authentication. Stations and network controllers typically utilize a network interface card (NIC) to perform the association process and facilitate communication between network devices. In order to increase system efficiency, there are wireless networks that utilize omnidirectional transmission for the association process and directional transmission for data exchange.

  Many wireless networks use the 2.4 GHz frequency for communication, as specified in the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11b and g standards. Other wireless networks use a frequency of 5 GHz for communication as defined in the IEEE 802.11a standard. IEEE 802.11a and b were issued in 1999, and IEEE 802.11g was issued in 2003. As the number of networks increases and wireless paths are congested in these frequency bands, there is a new wireless network standard that enables networks to communicate using millimeter waves, which are frequencies around 60 GHz. It is being defined. At such high frequencies, directional communication is considered desirable in order to achieve performance that meets the expected link budget requirements.

  The network controller can receive a combination of a plurality of signals simultaneously transmitted from a plurality of STAs through a plurality of antenna elements that are spatially separated from each other, and the received signal is subjected to appropriate signal processing. Can be separated into individual signals from individual STAs. In addition, the network controller transmits the directional radio signal toward the intended STA through a plurality of antenna elements arranged spatially apart from each other, thereby suppressing interference and a signal-to-noise ratio ( (S / N ratio) may be increased.

  Whether it is the same type of network or a different type of network, coexistence is a hot topic and has become a concern in wireless systems that do not require a license. The PCP / AP clustering method in the WiGig standard and the IEEE 802.11ad draft standard needs to tackle this problem in the 60 GHz band, which is an important issue especially in an environment where wireless lines are congested as in corporate use. .

  Currently, there is no way for non-PCP / non-AP STAs to report on the presence of other overlapping BSSs and other characteristics such as scheduling information. In particular, in the 60 GHz technology, information on such characteristics is important. Also, there is no method for requesting PCP / AP so that non-PCP / non-AP STAs can perform PCP / AP clustering with their BSS.

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, by improving the technology of coexistence of overlapping BSSs, the user's use satisfaction in the case of adopting a 60 GHz-based wireless system is improved.

It is the figure which showed the example of the PCP / AP clustering in the case of three PCP / AP. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a PCP / AP clustering mechanism according to various aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a cluster report element according to various aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a cluster report control field of the cluster report element of FIG. 3.

[Definition]
Access point (AP): refers to any entity that has the function of a station (STA) and provides access to distribution services for STAs associated through the WM.

  Basic Service Set (BSS): Refers to a set of STAs that have been successfully synchronized using a JOIN service primitive and one station (STA) using the START primitive. Membership in a BSS does not mean that wireless communication with all other members of that BSS is possible.

  Beacon interval (BI): Time interval during which beacon transmission is performed. For example, before a station (STA) enters the power saving mode, when that station (STA) should be activated and receive a beacon (and a frame buffered at the access point (AP)) Beacon interval (BI) is required in order to know if there exists.

  Beacon frame: One of management frames in an IEEE 802.11-based WLAN. Contains all information about the network. A beacon frame is periodically transmitted to notify the presence of the wireless LAN network. The beacon frame is transmitted by an access point (AP) in the infrastructure BSS. In an IBSS network, beacon generation is shared among a plurality of stations. For example, a beacon frame can include a MAC header, a frame body and an FCS, a time stamp field, a beacon interval field indicating the time interval of beacon transmission, and a length of 16 bits, for device / network capabilities. A plurality of fields including a capability information field including the following information.

  Beacon time (BT): The time between the beginning of the first millimeter-wave beacon transmission transmitted by the mSTA in a beacon interval and the end of the last millimeter-wave beacon transmission transmitted by the same mSTA in the same beacon interval. interval.

  Contention-based period (CBP): A period in which multiple STAs can compete for access to a shared wireless medium.

  Frame: A basic unit for data transmission between stations. The term “frame” is used interchangeably with “packet”. Millimeter-wave STA (mSTA): A station that uses a radio transmitter that operates on channels in the ultraband (UB) or 66 GHz frequency band.

  Non-PCP / non-AP station (STA): A STA that is neither an AP nor a PCP.

  Non-access point (non-AP) station (STA): A STA that is not an AP.

  PBSS control point (PCP): Any entity that has the function of a station (STA) and has received a START confirmation with a SUCCESS return code in response to the transmission of a START request with a BSS type parameter set to “PBSS”. Point to.

  In PCP / AP clustering, a PCP / AP that is a member of a cluster can receive an announcement frame that includes a millimeter-wave beacon and an extended schedule element of another cluster member. Allows transmissions to be scheduled during non-overlapping periods for other members of the same cluster.

  Service period (SP): A period during which only a specified STA can perform transmission. Transmission within the SP is initiated by the SP owner.

  Station (STA): refers to any device that includes an IEEE 802.11 compliant medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical layer (PHY) interface to the wireless medium (WM).

  Wireless medium (WM): A medium used to implement the transfer of protocol data units (PDUs) between peer physical layer (PHY) entities of a wireless local area network (LAN).

  A personal basic service set (PBSS) may be used to support millimeter wave usage. PBSS includes STAs that operate as PCPs (PBSS central points) or network coordinators that facilitate directivity control in high frequency or millimeter wave networks, such as networks that operate at or near 60 GHz. PCP can replace AP, and PCP / AP may use a PCP / AP clustering mechanism to improve spatial frequency sharing and reduce interference with other shared channels BSS. In PCP / AP clustering, a PCP / AP that is a member of a cluster can receive announcement frames that include millimeter-wave beacons and other cluster member extended schedule elements, so that this PCP / AP Allows transmissions to be scheduled for non-overlapping periods.

According to some aspects of the present disclosure, detecting whether the first clusterable PCP / AP is within a non-PCP / non-AP STA range;
The use of the cluster in the basic service set (BSS) of the second clusterable PCP / AP and non-PCP / non-AP STA to the second clusterable PCP / AP associated with the non-PCP / non-AP STA, A second clusterable PCP / AP sending a message requesting to start or continue.

  In the above method, the detecting step includes receiving a beacon frame from the first clusterable PCP / AP, and the beacon frame may be a millimeter wave beacon frame. The message may include a cluster report element that includes a cluster request subfield, and the message may include the timing at which the detection phase was performed, information in the received beacon frame, or both. Also, set the cluster request subfield to 1 to indicate that the non-PCP / non-AP STA is requesting that the second clusterable PCP / AP start or continue PCP / AP clustering. Can do.

  The method described above may further comprise transmitting the cluster report element to the second cluster capable PCP / AP in an announcement frame or an information response frame. Determining whether to transmit a message from a non-PCP / non-AP STA by determining whether the beacon frame is transmitted from a second clusterable PCP / AP; May be provided. The method may comprise determining whether to transmit a message from a non-PCP / non-AP STA by determining whether the beacon frame includes a PCP / AP clustering control field. Also, a message from the non-PCP / non-AP STA is transmitted by determining whether the value of the cluster ID field in the PCP / AP clustering control field is different from the MAC address of the second clusterable PCP / AP. A step of determining whether or not to perform may be provided. In addition, the above-described method is another co-channel basic service set in which a non-PCP / non-AP STA functions as a PCP / AP and becomes a member PCP / AP that can be clustered by the second clusterable PCP / AP (BSS) may be initialized.

  In some aspects of the disclosure, a receiver that detects a first clusterable PCP / AP that is within range of a non-PCP / non-AP STA, and a second associated with the non-PCP / non-AP STA The second clusterable PCP / AP initiates the use of clustering in the basic service set (BSS) of the second clusterable PCP / AP and non-PCP / non-AP STA to the clusterable PCP / AP or An apparatus comprising a transmitter for transmitting a message requesting to continue is disclosed.

  In the above apparatus, the receiver can receive a beacon frame from the first clusterable PCP / AP, and the beacon frame may be a millimeter wave beacon frame. The message may include when the detection phase is performed, information in the received beacon frame, or both. The above apparatus determines whether to send a message from a non-PCP / non-AP STA by determining whether the beacon frame is sent from a second clusterable PCP / AP. May be provided. In addition, the above-described apparatus may include a controller that determines whether to transmit a message from a non-PCP / non-AP STA by determining whether the beacon frame includes a PCP / AP clustering control field. The controller determines whether the value of the cluster ID field in the PCP / AP clustering control field is different from the MAC address of the second clusterable PCP / AP, thereby sending a message from the non-PCP / non-AP STA. Whether or not to transmit can be determined.

  In some aspects of this disclosure, a request from a non-PCP / non-AP STA that enables or continues clustering in a basic service set (BSS) of a first PCP / AP is received at the first PCP / AP. The first PCP / AP is not associated with a second PCP / AP basic service set (BSS) operating in the vicinity of the basic service set (BSS) of the first PCP / AP A method is disclosed.

  The method described above comprises receiving an extended schedule element from a second PCP / AP to schedule a service period, a contention-based period in a beacon interval, or both, or to move the beacon time. May be.

  The above-described method generates a service period in a beacon interval with an association identifier (AID) assigned with a predetermined source and destination in order to prevent transmission during a specific period of the beacon interval. May be further provided.

The method includes receiving, in an announcement frame or an information response frame, a cluster report element from a non-PCP / non-AP STA, setting a cluster report subfield of the cluster report element to 1, and a transmitted cluster report. Setting the PCP / AP clustering control field in the element to the corresponding field value in the PCP / AP clustering control field of the received beacon frame;
Setting a reference time stamp field for indicating a beacon frame reception time; setting an existing schedule subfield to 1 if an extended schedule field is present in the transmitted cluster report element; And a step of setting 1 in the TSCONST presence subfield when the TSCONST field is present in the cluster report element.

  The above method may further comprise setting a corresponding field value in the extended schedule element of the received beacon frame to the extended schedule element field in the cluster report element.

  In the above method, when the channel state used by the non-PCP / non-AP STA is a bad state including interference, the TSCONST field is set and the second PCP / AP basic service set (BSS) is set. The method may further include the step of indicating one period with reference to the target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of the beacon interval (BI).

  In the above method, a non-PCP / non-AP STA, a first PCP / AP, or a second PCP / AP receives a cluster report element whose cluster report field is set to 1 from the non-PCP / non-AP STA. If so, the method may further include scheduling the service period and the contention base period to a beacon interval (BI).

  In the above method, in order to prevent transmission during a specific period in the beacon interval, an association identifier (AID) to which a source and a destination set with predetermined values are assigned, and a service period (SP ) At a beacon interval (BI).

  In some aspects of the disclosure, a first PCP / AP that receives a request from a non-PCP / non-AP STA to initiate or continue to use clustering in a first PCP / AP Basic Service Set (BSS). The first PCP / AP is associated with a second PCP / AP basic service set (BSS) operating in the vicinity of the first PCP / AP basic service set (BSS). No device is disclosed.

  In the apparatus described above, the receiver may schedule an extended schedule element to the second PCP / AP to schedule a service period, a contention-based period, or both to the beacon interval (BI) and / or move the beacon time. You may receive from. The above-mentioned apparatus is a controller that generates a service period in a beacon interval with an association identifier (AID) to which a predetermined source and destination are assigned in order to prevent transmission from being performed during a specific period in the beacon interval. May be further provided.

  The following is a detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Arrangements in the form of systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable media disclosed herein can provide efficient communication between a network communication controller (NCC) and multiple stations in a wireless network. . Such communication is referred to as intra-network communication in this specification. Intra-network communications can include beacon transmission and data transmission. In addition, the arrangements in the form of systems, apparatus, methods and computer readable media disclosed herein can provide efficient communication within the communication range between multiple NCCs, Channel usage between different networks can be managed and / or synchronized. Such management, synchronization, and communication are referred to as internetwork management, synchronization, and communication. This communication usually includes only beacon transmission because no data is transmitted between networks (other than synchronous data). Such internetwork activities can form synchronized regions or synchronized domains. In some embodiments, the NCC may be a piconet controller, access point, PBSS central point (PCP), station, or any device that can provide management commands to control intra-network or internetwork communications.

  The PCP / AP may use a PCP / AP clustering mechanism to improve spatial frequency sharing and reduce interference with other shared channels BSS. In PCP / AP clustering, a PCP / AP that is a member of a cluster can receive an announcement frame that includes a millimeter-wave beacon and an extended schedule element of another cluster member. Allows transmissions to be scheduled during non-overlapping periods for other members of the same cluster. The PCP / AP may employ a PCP / AP clustering control field that sets the use of PCP / AP clustering in the BSS. A PCP / AP that transmits a clustering control field is defined as “clusterable” and a PCP / AP that does not transmit a clustering control field is defined as “not clusterable”. Multiple clusterable PCP / APs can operate on the same channel and form a PCP / AP cluster. A PCP / AP cluster may contain only one synchronous PCP / AP (S-PCP / S-AP) or one synchronous PCP / AP (S-PCP / S-AP) and one or more PCP / APs it can. The MAC address of the S-PCP / S-AP may be the cluster ID of the PCP / AP cluster.

  As described above, there are at least two constraints on the typical PCP / AP clustering mechanism defined in the WiGig standard and the IEEE 802.11ad draft standard. First, non-PCP / non-AP stations (STAs) cannot report on the presence of detected duplicate BSSs. In the current clustering, it is assumed that the PCP / AP is the only STA that can detect duplicate BSS, and that other non-PCP / non-AP STAs cannot report to the confident PCP / AP about the detected duplicate BSS. is doing. Due to this assumption, the possibility of coexistence is limited only to a plurality of BSSs having a PCP / AP in a direct communicable range. Second, in situations where clustering is not yet possible in the BSS, non-PCP / non-AP STAs cannot request their PCP / AP to allow clustering in the BSS. In other words, in the current specification, only the PCP / AP can make a decision to enable PCP / AP clustering.

  Some aspects of the present disclosure disclose an extension of the clustering mechanism that solves the above two problems. In order to solve the above problem related to reporting on the presence of the first overlapping BSS, a cluster report and rescheduling mechanism is disclosed. These allow non-PCP / non-AP STAs to report not only the presence of duplicate BSSs but also when detections were made, and where possible, can improve coexistence between duplicate BSSs Specific information within detected beacons can also be reported. In order to solve the problem related to the second clustering request, a non-PCP / non-AP STA may be arranged so that it can explicitly request its own PCP / AP to enable clustering in the BSS. This can assist in the process of determining whether to allow clustering in PCP / AP and may improve duplicate BSS operations.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of PCP / AP clustering in the case of three PCP / APs. Clustering allows alignment of beacon intervals (BI) of different BSSs, and once aligned, multiple PCP / APs can receive scheduling information from each other and reschedule transmissions accordingly. it can. In the figure, transmission of beacons from different NCCs is not limited to this, but is sent to, for example, one channel or S-PCP / S-AP, PCP / AP on the same channel. In such a configuration, the NCC may transmit a standard beacon or synchronization beacon (SB) in one time frame or in an adjacent time frame. Accordingly, each NCC beacon may be communicated in a time division manner or in a time difference. Returning to FIG. 1, the S-PCP / S-AP 105 may transmit one beacon frame 120 at each beacon interval 125. The first reception PCP / AP 110 can listen and receive the beacon frame 120 transmitted by the S-PCP / S-AP 105 during the reception period Rx130. The PCP / AP 110 can also transmit another beacon frame 135 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, such as, for example, offset time 1 shown in the figure as “cluster time offset (n = 1)”. . Similarly, the second receiving PCP / AP 115 transmits a beacon frame 135 after waiting for a predetermined period such as an offset time 2 indicated as “cluster time offset (n = 2)” in the figure, for example. Can do. Therefore, each PCP / AP is assigned a different offset based on the start of the beacon frame from the S-PCP / S-AP, and each PCP / AP transmits a beacon frame based on the assigned offset. Can start. Although two PCP / APs are shown and described, this is merely an example, and less than two, or two or more PCP / APs may be part of a cluster with a given S-PCP / S-AP. The part may be formed.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a PCP / AP clustering mechanism according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in the drawing, two PCP / AP, PCP1 / AP1 215 and PCP2 / AP2 220 are arranged so that respective power ranges represented by dotted lines overlap each other in the region 230. STA2 225 is clustered with PCP2 / AP2 220 but is not within the range of PCP1 / AP1 215 and is not clustered with PCP1 / AP1 215. STA1 235 is clustered with PCP1 / AP1 215 and is arranged to be able to enter the range of both BSS1 205 associated with PCP1 / AP1 215 and BSS2 210 associated with PCP2 / AP2 220 . If STA1 235 detects a beacon from PCP2 / AP2 and notices that PCP2 / AP2 is using clustering in BSS2 210, STA1 235 will send PCP1 / AP1 215 to PCP / AP1 215 in PCS / AP2 It can be requested to enable AP clustering. This process is related to the elements shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and is described further below. By comprising in this way, coexistence between BSS1 and BSS2 can be improved.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an example cluster report element 300 in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 shows an example of the cluster report control field 400 of the cluster report element 300 of FIG. The cluster request subfield 405 can be set to 1 to indicate that the STA is requesting the PCP / AP to start or continue PCP / AP clustering, and this field is set to 0. In this case, this field can be ignored. The cluster report subfield 410 can be set to 1 to indicate that this element contains a cluster report. If the cluster report subfield 410 is set to 1, the reference timestamp 320 and the PCP / AP clustering control field 325 are present in this element. If the cluster report subfield 410 is set to 0, none of the reference timestamp 320, the PCP / AP clustering control field 325, the extended schedule field 330, and the TSCONST field 335 are present in this element.

  The schedule existence subfield 415 is valid only when 1 is set in the cluster report subfield 410, and is ignored in other cases. The schedule present subfield 415 is set to 1 to indicate that the extended schedule field 330 is present in this element. Otherwise, the extended schedule field 330 is not present in this element. The extended schedule field 330 includes all assignments in the beacon interval (BI) and allows coexistence between overlapping BSSs.

  The TSCONST presence subfield 420 is valid only when 1 is set in the cluster report subfield 410. When 0 is set in the TSCONST presence subfield 420, it indicates that the TSCONST field exists in this element. Otherwise, there is no TSCONST field in this element.

  By using the cluster report element 300 and the cluster report control field 400, a clusterable PCP / AP that receives an extended schedule element from another clusterable PCP / AP can have its beacon period, service period (SP) and One may attempt to reduce interference with the indicated transmission in the received enhanced schedule element by rescheduling the contention-based period (CBP) or moving the beacon time (BT). The PCP / AP may also generate an SP in the BI and set the AID of the PCP / AP itself in the source field and destination AID field of the SP set. In this way, the PCP / AP can prevent the STA from transmitting during a specific period in the BI.

  A non-PCP / non-AP STA that is a member of the BSS and receives a millimeter-wave beacon sends a cluster report element to its PCP / AP when the received millimeter-wave beacon frame meets certain conditions. Can do. As an example of a specific condition, the millimeter wave beacon is not from the STA's own PCP / AP, the millimeter wave beacon includes a PCP / AP clustering control field, and / or a cluster ID within the PCP / AP. The value of the field is different from the MAC address of the STA's PCP / AP.

  Cluster report elements that meet some or all of the above conditions may be sent in announcements or information response frames sent to the STA's PCP / AP. Within the transmitted cluster report element, the STA can set the cluster report subfield to 1. The STA may set the PCP / AP clustering control field in the transmitted cluster report element to the corresponding field value in the PCP / AP clustering control of the received millimeter wave beacon. Then, the STA can set the reference time stamp field to indicate the millimeter wave beacon reception time. If the extended schedule field is present in the transmitted cluster report element, the STA can set 1 in the schedule present subfield. Otherwise, the STA may set 0 in the schedule presence subfield. If the TSCONST field is present in the transmitted cluster report element, the STA can set the TSCONST present subfield to 1; otherwise, it can set 0. If present, the extended schedule element field in the cluster report element can be set to the corresponding field value in the extended schedule element of the received millimeter wave beacon. In addition, if present, the TSCONST field is set to indicate various periods based on the start time of the BSS of the BSS in which the STA having a bad channel state due to interference is participating, for example. can do.

  When a cluster report element is received from a non-PCP / non-AP STA with the cluster report field set to 1, the PCP / AP capable of clustering reschedules the SP and CBP in its BI or BT May be moved. Alternatively, other operations may be performed to reduce interference with the transmission indicated in the received cluster report element. The PCP / AP that can execute clustering may generate an SP with its own BI and set the AID of the PCP / AP itself in the SP source field and destination AID field. By doing so, the PCP / AP can prevent the STA from transmitting during a specific period in the BI.

  Also, by using the cluster report element 300 and the cluster report control field 400, a non-PCP / non-AP STA that is a member of the BSS sends the cluster report element to its own PCP / AP and the PCP / AP in that BSS. You may request to allow AP clustering. For example, if a non-PCP / non-AP STA intends to initialize another BSS for the same channel that performs the PCP / AP role, the non-PCP / non-AP STA makes this request. May wish to become a member PCP / AP of a cluster enabled by the current PCP / AP when performing the role.

  To request to enable PCP / AP clustering in the BSS, the STA can send a cluster report element with 1 set in the cluster request subfield to its PCP / AP. Upon receipt of a cluster report element with the cluster request subfield set to 1, the PCP / AP forms a PCP / AP in the BSS according to typical procedures such as the WiGig standard and the IEEE 802.11ad draft standard, and Can be held. By configuring in this way, the PCP / AP can make the minimum duration of the beacon SP equal to the predetermined minimum time interval. Although not limited to this, for example, the minimum time interval may be 500 μsec.

  After the minimum time interval following the transmission of the cluster report element with the cluster request subfield set to 1 to the PCP / AP, the non-PCP / non-AP receives a millimeter wave from the PCP / AP capable of PCP / AP clustering. If no beacon frame is received, the non-PCP / non-AP STA may send a cluster report element to its own PCP / AP and request that the BSS be capable of PCP / AP clustering.

  If a non-PCP / non-AP STA becomes a member PCP / AP that has been made clusterable by the current PCP / AP, the non-PCP / non-AP STA assigns a scheduled CBP assignment to itself. It can be synchronized between the BSS acting as / AP and the BSS of the current PCP / AP.

  Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any suitable combination thereof. Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium that are read and executed by a pair of processors. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (eg, a computing device). For example, the machine-readable storage medium may be a read only memory, a random access memory, a magnetic disk storage medium, an optical storage medium, a flash memory device, and others. Also, firmware, software, routines or instructions are described herein as particular illustrated embodiments for performing particular actions. However, such descriptions are for ease of explanation, and in practice such operations may be performed by computing devices, processors, controllers, or firmware, software, routines or other instructions that execute instructions. It is clear that the result is from the device.

  Although various embodiments described herein are described as including specific features, structures or characteristics, all aspects or embodiments of the present disclosure are not necessarily limited to these specific features, structures or characteristics. Does not necessarily include. Also, although specific features, structures or characteristics have been described in connection with one embodiment, such features, structures or characteristics may relate to other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated. It is clear that it may be included. Various changes and modifications can be made within the scope or spirit of the principles of the invention described herein. The specification and accompanying drawings are to be regarded as illustrative only, and the scope of the principles of the present invention is determined solely by the appended claims.

Claims (26)

Detecting a first clusterable PCP / AP present within a non-PCP / non-AP STA;
The second clusterable use of clustering in a basic service set (BSS) of the second clusterable PCP / AP to a second clusterable PCP / AP associated with the non-PCP / non-AP STA Sending a message requesting that the active PCP / AP start or continue.   The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises receiving a beacon frame from the first clusterable PCP / AP, wherein the beacon frame is a millimeter wave beacon frame.   3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message includes when the detecting step is performed, information in the received beacon frame, or both.   The message includes a cluster report element including a cluster request subfield, and the cluster request subfield is set to 1 so that the second cluster capable PCP / AP initiates or continues PCP / AP clustering. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-PCP / non-AP STA is requesting.   5. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting the cluster report element to the second clusterable PCP / AP in an announcement frame or an information response frame.   The non-PCP / non-AP is determined by determining whether the beacon frame is transmitted from the second clusterable PCP / AP and the beacon frame includes a PCP / AP clustering control field. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining whether to send the message from a STA.   The message from the non-PCP / non-AP STA by determining whether the value of the cluster ID field in the PCP / AP clustering control field is different from the MAC address of the second clusterable PCP / AP. The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining whether to transmit.   The non-PCP / non-AP STA functions as a PCP / AP and initially initiates another co-channel basic service set (BSS) to be a member PCP / AP clustered by the second clusterable PCP / AP. The method of claim 1, further comprising: A receiver for detecting a first clusterable PCP / AP present within a non-PCP / non-AP STA;
The second clusterable use of clustering in a basic service set (BSS) of the second clusterable PCP / AP to a second clusterable PCP / AP associated with the non-PCP / non-AP STA A transmitter that sends a message requesting that the active PCP / AP start or continue.   The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the receiver receives a beacon frame from the first clusterable PCP / AP, and the beacon frame is a millimeter wave beacon frame.   The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the message includes a timing at which the detecting step is performed, information in the received beacon frame, or both.   The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the message includes a cluster report element.   A controller for determining whether to transmit the message from the non-PCP / non-AP STA by determining whether the beacon frame is transmitted from the second clusterable PCP / AP; The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:   The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a controller that determines whether to transmit the message from the non-PCP / non-AP STA by determining whether the beacon frame includes a PCP / AP clustering control field. .   The controller determines whether the value of the cluster ID field in the PCP / AP clustering control field is different from the MAC address of the second clusterable PCP / AP, thereby determining the non-PCP / non-AP STA. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus determines whether to send the message from. Receiving at the first PCP / AP a request from a non-PCP / non-AP STA that enables or continues clustering in a basic service set (BSS) of the first PCP / AP;
The method in which the first PCP / AP is not associated with a basic service set (BSS) of a second PCP / AP operating in the vicinity of the basic service set (BSS) of the first PCP / AP.   17. The method further comprising receiving an extended schedule element from the second PCP / AP to schedule a service period, a contention-based period in a beacon interval, or both, or to move a beacon time. The method described in 1.   In order to prevent transmission from being performed during a specific period of the beacon interval, the method further includes generating a service period in the beacon interval with an association identifier (AID) assigned with a predetermined source and destination. The method of claim 17. Receiving a cluster report element from the non-PCP / non-AP STA in an announcement frame or an information response frame;
Setting 1 in the cluster report subfield of the cluster report element;
Setting a corresponding field value in the PCP / AP clustering control field of the received beacon frame in the PCP / AP clustering control field in the transmitted cluster report element;
Setting a reference timestamp field to indicate the beacon frame reception time;
Setting an extended schedule field to 1 if an extended schedule field is present in the transmitted cluster report element;
The method of claim 16, further comprising: setting a TSCONST presence subfield to 1 if a TSCONST field is present in the transmitted cluster report element.   The method of claim 19, further comprising setting an extended schedule element field in the cluster report element to a corresponding field value in an extended schedule element of a received beacon frame.   When the channel used by the non-PCP / non-AP STA is in a bad state including interference, the TSCONST field is set and the beacon of the basic service set (BSS) of the second PCP / AP is set. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising indicating one period relative to a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of an interval (BI).   The non-PCP / non-AP STA receives a cluster report element having 1 set in the cluster report field from the non-PCP / non-AP STA by the first PCP / AP or the second PCP / AP. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising scheduling a service period and a contention base period to a beacon interval (BI).   In order to prevent transmission during a specific period in the beacon interval (BI), a service period (SP) is set with an association identifier (AID) assigned with a source and destination set with predetermined values. 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising generating at the beacon interval (BI). Comprising the first PCP / AP receiver for receiving a request from a non-PCP / non-AP STA to initiate or continue to use clustering in a first PCP / AP basic service set (BSS);
The first PCP / AP is not associated with a second PCP / AP basic service set (BSS) operating in the vicinity of the basic service set (BSS) of the first PCP / AP.   The receiver receives an extended schedule element from the second PCP / AP to schedule a service period, contention-based period, or both to a beacon interval (BI) and / or move beacon time. 25. The device according to claim 24.   A controller for generating a service period in a beacon interval with an association identifier (AID) assigned with a predetermined source and destination in order to prevent transmission from occurring during a specific period in the beacon interval. 24. Device according to 24.

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